Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has been cleared of serious injury following tests on his left knee, the club have reported.

Gundogan, making his first start since last December after recovering from surgery on his right knee, limped off after an hour of City's Carabao Cup third-round win at West Brom on Wednesday.

The Germany international was examined by club medical staff on Thursday and no significant damage was revealed.

The problem was diagnosed as a sprain and the 26-year-old could soon be back in action.

A report on the club's website, www.mancity.com, read: "It is too early at this stage to give an exact time-frame on his absence but he is expected to be back on the training field in the coming days."

The player himself tweeted: "Hi all, thank you for all your messages! I'm happy to tell you my injury is nothing serious and I hope to be back soon on the pitch!"

Gungoan will probably not be available for Saturday's Premier League game against Crystal Palace, or even Tuesday's Champions League visit of Shakhtar Donetsk, but the September 30 trip to Chelsea could be a realistic comeback target.

Manager Pep Guardiola had said after the game that he did not think the problem would be serious.

Gundogan, who had returned to action as a substitute in the 6-0 win at Watford last weekend, was hurt in a challenge from Claudio Yacob.

"I think it's not serious, it's not eight months, but a little injury," Guardiola said. "Unfortunately the action is tough. He will be back soon, hopefully."